Huseyin Cinkara (23-0,19 KOs) suffered multiple injuries in his eighth round knockout loss to IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) in their December 6 fight at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach last Saturday night.
One-Punch KO
Opetaia knocked out Cinkara in the eighth round with a powerful left to the head. It was a one-punch KO for Opetaia that left Cinkara flat on his back in bad shape on the canvas. Referee Chris Flores stopped the fight at 0:56 of round eight.
C1 Vertebra Fracture
box insider, Mike Coppinger, report that “Cinkara suffered a brain contusion, minor brain hemorrhage and fractured C1 vertebra.”
Opetaia was also injured, by a right hand from Cinkara in round two. He suffered a cut under his right eye and swelling under both eyes. It was an easy fight for Jai to face the 40-year-old Cinkara. It was mainly a one-sided fight, but every now and then Opetaia got hit, and each time the reaction showed he was getting nailed.
Francis defends Jai
“Every time these guys hit, they take pieces out of each other. Both boys are pretty messed up,” Tasman Fighters chief executive Mick Francis said. media following Jai Opetaia’s eighth round knockout victory over Huseyin Cinkara last Saturday night.
“Jai is hard on himself. There’s no way this was a disappointing performance. Everyone’s entitled to a bad night at the office. He’s knocked these guys out time and time again. That’s how dangerous he is, and that’s why he’s the most feared fighter in the world.”
It is understandable from Opetaia’s perspective to be disappointed in his performance as it was not the amazing effort from him that we have become accustomed to seeing. He had to look good to argue his case that he should be next for the winner of the David Benavidez vs. Gilberto Ramirez fight for the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.
“He’s always hard on himself, but it certainly wasn’t disappointing. I’m so proud of this kid. He deserves to be the big rock star of Australian boxing that he is,” Francis said of Opetaia.
Last updated on 12/07/2025
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